Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Martin.
Hi Ryan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I never did well in school my mom will attest my notebook’s were always covered in doodles and while I was getting my leg tattooed every month I was able to watch and I thought to myself “I could do this” and so I made the decision to dedicate my free time to learn anything and everything I could about tattoos. I became more and more obsessed with everything about tattoos, the art the lifestyle, the expression and individuality. I started my apprenticeship with a shop near where I was living at the time. I also had two other jobs while trying to do this so in the end I was let go from that opportunity but the artist I was learning under sent me a text expressing that it’s unfortunate it didn’t work out but he said he has seen many come and go in this industry but he could tell how bad I wanted it and told me to keep pushing and don’t give up. So I started tattooing friends out of the house and eventually got another shot at an apprenticeship at eternal tattoos clawson. Instantly I felt I was in the right place with the right people to push me to be my best. After that it has been more and more hard work and more and more learning. I’ve been very grateful to build such a fun and loyal clientele. This career changed everything about my life for the best and I will continue to get better and never take it for granted.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course something like this isn’t a smooth road or everyone would do it. All I will say is I’ve worked many different jobs for many different people and tattooing has given me everything I could ask for so I’m so beyond grateful that it was no problem having any kind of setbacks because I wanted to make tattooing happen so bad nothing could stray me from achieving this goal.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I don’t believe in any kind of specialist mindset. And honestly one of my biggest pet peeves in the tattoo world is some artists egos. I believe that my job is a service and has nothing to do with what I wanna do. My job is to give the client the best version of their concept and I will do it however they want. That being said I always give my professional opinion to steer them towards a long lasting tattoo. I do have plenty of clients that let me do whatever I want on them and for that I’m so grateful. I think one thing that makes people choose me is my versatility. My mentor Jamey Conry (@badgersdenstudios) always told me “ if you wanna be a tattoo artist that’s what you have to be able to do….. tattoo anything and everything that comes through the door.” So I continue to this day to practice in a multitude of styles. I’d say if I’m most proud of anything it’s the loyalty I have from my clients without them I would be starving.
How do you think about luck?
Luck can only get you so far I think this career has its way of weeding out the lucky and rewarding the hard workers. Luck might make your art cool but it doesn’t make you cool. You can give someone an amazing tattoo but if it seemed boring or worse creepy they ain’t coming back. I think over luck people are drawn to the dedicated. Everyone loves an underdog story and like Adam sander said in the movie hustle hard work will beat talent every time.
Pricing:
- $100 minimum
- $100/hr
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Tattoosbyryan7
